South Korea
Seoul, Daejeon, Gongju, Suncheon
Day 1: Arrive at the Incheon International Airport after your long flight and catch the Korail train to Seoul. Though the airport is displayed as “Seoul,” Incheon is actually a peninsula about a 35-minute train ride from the city. South Korea has a pretty well organized public transportation system, so we’ll be using it throughout this trip. After finding your hotel for that night, drop off your bags before starting on a palace crawl around the city. Depending on your hotel, everything we’re going to today should be within walking distance, but if it’s not, you can always hop on the subway wherever you would like. Our first stop is the grand old Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gyeongbokgung was the primary royal residence during the Joseon Dynasty (the most prosperous and famous of all the royal dynasties in Korea). The grounds are expansive, and though the outsides of the buildings are stunning, you will not find much inside any of them. This palace was heavily demolished by the Japanese in the early twentieth century. Most of what you see is a reconstruction. Walk a few block east over to Unhyeongung Palace. This was once a prince’s private residence, and although it is much smaller today than the other palaces we’ll see, it is more furnished. This royal residence is smaller, but with no entry fee, it is worth a stop on your way to the more popular palaces. Stop by a traditional Korea restaurant for dinner (but be prepared to sit on the floor and eat lots of side dishes) before returning to your hotel for the night. Day 2: Head to the train station early to get on a train headed for Daejeon which should be just over an hour. Once in Daejeon, grab a taxi (or, if you’re brave, you can figure out the bus system) to drop off your luggage at your hotel and then make your way to the Yuseong Hot Springs where there is one hotel in particular where you can pay around $7 for a soak in the springs. The springs are separated into areas for men and women, and there is a general no-clothes policy in these types of spas. But relax in the warm waters or steamy saunas for as long as you want. You can even partake in the traditional scrubbing off of dead skin after your soak. If getting fully naked in front of strangers is not your style, there is a free foot bath in the area where you can still get a taste of how much Koreans’ love to bathe. For dinner, treat your taste buds to Shabu-Shabu, which is one of the most unique dining experiences you can find in Korea. Enjoy cooking your own dinner in a hot pot before your own eyes. Dump as many vegetables and pieces of raw meat as you like into the boiling broth and eat it over your complimentary rice. Rest up at your hotel in Daejeon before a full day of hiking. Day 3: Today we hit the beautiful mountains of Korea. The country is pretty mountainous, and Koreans love to hike, so every visitor should take some time to put on their hiking boots and take in some of the views from Korea’s beautiful peaks. We’ll be heading up to Gyereongsan National Park. There are several different trails you can take up the mountain, but we’ll enjoy both natural and historical sites by going up to Donghaksa, the local Buddhist Temple situated on the mountain. Pack a hearty picnic lunch to take with you and eat at the top of the mountain as you take in the gorgeous view. The best time to visit Korea in general is during the spring or fall when the trees are either full of cherry blossoms or leaves changing into vibrant autumn colors. You’ll find plenty of both if you choose to hike up Gyeryeongsan during either of these seasons. Hike up to as many sites as you please and take the day to see all of them. When you’ve finished hiking for the day, again return to your hotel in Daejeon. Day 4: Wake up early for a day trip to the Temple of 1,000 Buddhas, otherwise known as Seonggoksa in the sleepy city of Gongju. Gongju is a neighboring rural city of Daejeon, so take a bus there and then hop in a taxi to get to Seonggoksa. Spend as much time as you like roaming the area and trails. Be sure not to leave before you see the 1,000 golden Buddha statues situated in a semi-circle. Walk back down and make your way back to the bus station and to Daejeon’s train station to catch a train to Suncheon, where you’ll stay before returning to Seoul. You can stop for dinner at a Shabu-Shabu Wollamsam restaurant in the area. This is similar to the normal Shabu-Shabu restaurants except that after cooking your vegetables and meat, you place them in a piece of rice paper that you dip in hot water. You add as much sauce as you like and then wrap it all up for your very own custom-made dumpling. Day 5: Today is your chance to step back in time seen how the average Korean citizen lived in days gone by at Naganeupseong Folk Village. Once you’re at the gates to the village, you’ll be immediately greeted by vendors selling all kinds of interesting Korean street food. Try the fresh Ddeok, glutinous rice, or—if you’re feeling a little more brave—buy a small cup of boiled silk worms. Take your time roaming the village: visit the old courthouse and prison to see some of the local means of capital punishment, beat the laundry dry with wooden sticks, sing an ancient folk song, or try on some traditional Korean clothing for a great photo op. When you’ve finished your tour of the village, head back to Suncheon proper to see the stunning Suncheon Bay National Garden, which boasts gardens representing several different regions around the world (the best time for this would be in the spring when the plants are in bloom). End your day at the Suncheon Open Film Set across town. Though the buildings may look much older, the fake town was designed to look like Seoul in the 1960s and has been the set for many Korean shows and movies. For dinner, stop by a local Bongouse Rice Burger restaurant for a delicious meal of kimchi, tuna, pickled radish, and rice wrapped like a burger (there are other flavors, including ham and cheese, if you’re not quite up to tackle kimchi yet). Simply squish your burger down, unwrap, and eat with a fork. You easily recognize the restaurants by their striped yellow and black exteriors. After your quick meal, return to your hotel and rest up for day 6. Day 6: Make your way back to the train station for a ride up to Seoul again. You saw the historical side of Seoul, now take a chance to explore some of its more modern aspects. Take a trip to Dongdaemun Market, full of traditional and contemporary shops, where you can find pretty much anything you could want in Korea. Try some food from the local street carts. Test your taste buds with one of Korea’s famous spicy treats, Ddeokbokki—a dish made of glutinous, fish cakes, and red paper paste. Before you leave the area, don’t forget to take a look at the namesake for the market—Dongdaemun. The impressive “Great East Gate” was once one of the Eight Gates of Seoul, which were built into the fortifying the wall that surrounded the city during the Joseon Dynasty. From there, take some public transportation or a taxi to Changdeokgung Palace. This palace is technically smaller than the grand Gyeongbokgung, but the landscaping inside of the enclosure makes all the difference. Every day, there are just a few English tours of the King’s Secret Garden that lies behind the major buildings, so be sure to look up the times beforehand and buy a ticket to the garden as well. The garden tour is well worth the price, especially in the fall or spring when the colors of changing leaves or the site of young cherry blossoms fill the entire garden. You can include the neighboring Changyeonggung Palace in your ticket for a couple of extra bucks. It’s worth the money, but it’s really just a large park. After another delicious dinner in town, return to your hotel in Seoul for your last night in this historic country. Day 7: If you happen to have any time, you can make a short trip to Insadong, a neighborhood in Seoul known for its quaint streets, modern galleries, and tea shops. Otherwise, make your way to the airport in Incheon to return home and say farewell to the Land of the Morning Calm. |